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Denver Police monitor license plates with ticket writer aid

Denver Public Works Right of Way Enforcement becomes extra eyes for DPD

Cross-agency collaboration will increase the recovery rate of stolen and wanted vehicles in Denver

(DENVER)…The Denver Public Works Right Of Way Enforcement team and the Denver Police Department have joined forces in an effort to locate and recover stolen and wanted motor vehicles. Stolen and wanted vehicle information is now available to parking enforcement officers through their handheld devices and through rapid license plate readers mounted on parking enforcement vehicles.

The license plate readers are currently in use by Denver Police Officers. The readers allow an officer using the device to scan license plates while driving around the city. The technology allows several license plates to be scanned in a short period of time and informs the officer if a vehicle is stolen or wanted in connection with a crime.

“Denver is one of the few cities in the nation where police and parking enforcement personnel have this type of agreement,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “It’s a collaboration that will help us recover stolen vehicles much more quickly and return them to their rightful owners.”

Two existing Fleet vehicles, a mini van and a light SUV, have been outfitted with a camera on each side. The cameras scan an estimated 10-12,000 license plates per hour while travelling at an average of 25 miles per hour. If the plate is in the database as a stolen or wanted vehicle, the enforcement officer will contact DPD immediately.

All 72 handheld devices carried by Right Of Way Enforcement VCA’s (Vehicle Control Agents) are programmed to now cross reference with the DPD database. When a VCA enters a license plate number into the handheld device to issue a citation, that plate number will automatically be checked against the stolen or wanted vehicle database.

“It makes sense for our team of VCA’s to access this technology since we come into contact with so many vehicles as part of our daily work program,” said Lindsey Strudwick, Director, Right Of Way Enforcement & Permit Operations. “This synergy between our agencies results in a great service to our citizens.”

Guidelines used by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and the police department to share information had made it difficult for Right Of Way Enforcement to receive the database in the past. This matter was re-examined by Manager of Safety Al LaCabe and Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman.

“Working together to recover stolen and wanted vehicles is truly a best practice that benefits both departments,” said Chief Whitman. “Given the limited amount of police resources, this collaboration greatly enhances our effectiveness.”